Two area bridges to undergo $1.2 million in repairs

Wednesday

Aug 15, 2007 at 12:15 AMAug 15, 2007 at 1:01 AM

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation confirmed that both the Stokes Avenue bridge and the Veterans Memorial Bridge will undergo extensive repairs at a cost of $1.2 million during the next several months.

TERI MILES

Two major bridge projects in Monroe County will affect drivers traveling between Stroudsburg and East Stroudsburg beginning next month.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation confirmed that both the Stokes Avenue bridge and the Veterans Memorial Bridge will undergo extensive repairs at a cost of $1.2 million during the next several months.

Both structures are included with 92 other PennDOT-owned bridges in Monroe County on the department's list of structurally deficient bridges greater than 8 feet in length.

Stroud Township Supervisor Ed Cramer said he knew work was planned on the bridges, but had no information.

"I'm waiting to hear," Cramer said. "I know there was a special pre-construction meeting in Allentown on Aug. 2, but I haven't heard anything more since then."

"That's a very important connection between Stroudsburg and East Stroudsburg," he said. "I hope, if it has to be closed, that it is not for too long."

PennDOT spokesman Ronald Young said, "There will be lane closures off and on throughout the project, but there or no planned total closures."

The scope of the work on the Stokes Avenue bridge will include replacing the bearings and pier caps, as well as some other minor repair work, Young said.

Karl Kroboth, PennDOT's District 5 bridge engineer, explained that the bridge consists of three separate spans with two piers located in the middle. The beams are supported by two abutments — one at each end of the bridge.

The steel bearings that are on top of the piers will be removed and replaced with neoprene bearings.

"Most of the work will be under the bridge at piers on two supports in the channel," Kroboth said.

The exact date for the $310,000 project to begin has not yet been confirmed, but it is expected to start sometime this fall and, according to the contract, be completed sometime in July 2008.

"The needed repairs are a result of age, weather and 'wear-and-tear' from traffic," Young said.

When asked if the repairs will prevent further problems if another series of heavy rainstorm events occurs, Young stated, "Nothing can prevent problems that may arise as a result of acts of nature, but these repairs will make the bridge more durable."

The Veterans Memorial Bridge project is expected to begin next month and be completed by November.

The $893,000 project involves resurfacing the entire bridge.

"Traffic will be reduced to a single lane in each direction for the duration," Kroboth said. "They'll be tearing off the top of the concrete, about half of the thickness of the deck, and putting in a new surface, as well as replacing the two expansion dams."

The average daily traffic on the Stokes Avenue bridge is 9,191 vehicles, according to PennDOT.

An average of 15,217 vehicles cross the Veterans Memorial Bridge per day.

Kroboth added, "We will alert the local officials in advance of a project and as soon as the start dates are confirmed, they will be notified."